LEAF students have been been monitoring the wildlife passage culvert installed by Snohomish County Public Works as part of the Granite Falls Alternate Route project (now Quarry Road).

According to the county, with a year of data collected, no road kill or vehicle/wildlife collisions have been reported to date and a variety of wildlife (deer, coyote, raccoon, rabbits, dogs and cats) have been using the culvert — which makes the road safer for both vehicles and wildlife.

"The avoidance of accidents is a great accomplishment because more than 2,000 vehicles a day travel the road," the article said.

LEAF students are also monitoring wildlife at other county projects.

The LEAF School was also featured in the Kettle Falls School District newsletter. Students assist students at Kettle Falls with wildlife tracking and related assignment and help Kettle Falls High School students set up wolverine snare hair stations and monitor trail cameras on the Boulder Highway Pass.

The information gathered is used by Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service to monitor the presence of wolverines on the Kettle Crest.

LEAF School students have worked with Kettle Falls students for the past three years.

Join local authors at the Edmonds Public Library (650 Main Street) on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. as poets and prose writers hosted by the EPIC series read from their work, offer insights on their craft, and share hands-on writing exercises.

On Thursday, March 8, EPIC presents four poets and prose writers from a group called The Writing Sisters: Monda Van Hollebeke, Kizzie Jones, Joanne Peterson, and Reni Roxas.

The March 8 event will have a special emphasis on poems and essays which pay tribute to classic Hollywood, as a nod to the March 9 appearance of Lorna Luft singing the songs of her mother, Judy Garland, at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

The Edmonds Prose/Poetry Interactive Community (EPIC) supports Edmonds-area writers and readers by producing literary events which are offered free of charge. EPIC programs are open to adults and teens interested in the craft of writing nonfiction, dialogue, humor, poetry, memoir, fiction, and all genres in between!

If you're a writer looking for a friendly exchange of ideas, EPIC events are for you. If you're a reader interested in knowing more about how authors produce their works, EPIC events are for you, too.

Started by managing director Janette Turner and creative director Amanda Laughtland, EPIC is produced through a collaborative effort of the Edmonds Arts Commission, Edmonds Library, Friends of the Edmonds Library, Swedish Hospital Art Committee, and the Edmonds Community College literary magazine, Between the Lines.

EPIC events in January and February featured mystery novelist and nonfiction writer Skye Moody and SketchFest Seattle director and comedy writer Clayton Weller.

In April 2012, EPIC will host a poetry writing workshop with Judith Roche. In May 2012, meet outdoors writer Craig Romano, author of Backpacking Washington and several other titles for Mountaineers Books.

Also starting in April 2012, Janette Turner will lead a free drop-in writing group on Monday mornings at 11 a.m. at the Edmonds Library. Bring pen and paper!

Keep up with details on upcoming events and speakers on the Facebook page for EPIC Literary Series at www.facebook.com/EPICseries. For more information, feel free to call or email Amanda Laughtland at amanda.laughtland@edcc.edu or 425.640.1339 ext. 7248.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Why Edmonds CC?I know people who go here and they told me it was a good
place to go. After going here, I met new friends and that made me want to stay.Why now? I wanted
to get a head start on classes I have to do in the future. By junior year in
high school, I had completed almost all of my required credits and was ready to
spend time working on classes I needed to get finished.High school: Lynnwood
Working at: Clay Pit, JCP Photography Studio
Volunteering at: an elementary schoolBest college experience: Meeting all
the people here and realizing how friendly and mature people were. College is a
lot different from high school.Biggest challenge: Time management — Sometimes it is hard to get all the things
you know you need to get done, done on time.Favorite class: Spanish — I thought
it would be hard, and while I may have not been good at it the teacher was sure
to make the effort to work with everyone and keep people on track with the
class. The students were also really fun and helpful. It was a great
environment to learn in.
Best advice: Keep up with homework and don't
procrastinate! Doing a little work every day is a lot easier than doing all
your homework the night before. And don't be afraid to get help.
On my iPod: Memories by David GuettaMovie:Horrible BossesAuthor: Alice SeboldCollege goal: Graduating from UW
with a 4.0Dream job: To work in a photography
studio or something in the creative arts.

Why Edmonds CC? Running Start was a great
opportunity for me to finish high school and my AA at the same time so I
decided to do it.Working at: Harbor Square Athletic
ClubBest college experience: Meeting new
people every quarter. There were always new faces and it’s an overall great
environment to be in.
Biggest challenge: Managing all my classes in
Running Start, playing volleyball and working all at the same time — but I did
it!Advice for students: Learn good time
management — when a person manages their time, they will do well in their
classes.Traveled to: Bosnia, Turkey, and Germany — but
I have never been to a state outside of Washington!Interests: I love to play sports! I played
volleyball all four years of high school and played basketball for two years in
high school.College goal: Master’s in Nursing
Dream job: I would love to work with cancer
patients at Swedish Medical Center in downtown Seattle.

David Taylor's creative welding class in the Native American Career and Technical Education Program created the artwork "Tatanka" currently displayed on the second floor of Snohomish Hall at Edmonds Community College.
Sonny Dippary assisted with the piece. Student participants were Lepae S. Nielsen, Adam Bob, Sherry Bradford, David Henson, David Hunt, Spencer Morris, and Darren Levantonio.

See "Lore" an exhibit by artist Kristen T. Ramirez in the college art gallery through Feb. 24. The exhibit, incorporating students' histories and lore, is a mixed media
installation drawing on sign painting and typography.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Congratulations to Edmonds Community College student Hunter Coulombe who was featured in Machinists News as one of three students to earn a scholarship for aerospace training from Machinists Union District Lodge 751.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Stumped on what to do tomorrow night? Celebrate Valentine's Day (Singles Awareness Day- call it what you will!) at the Black Box Theatre with Comedy of Love, 8 p.m., Tues., Feb. 14.

Join us for a
special Valentine's Day themed improv show, as Unexpected Productions explores the
passions of the holiday through hilarious comedy improv. Watch as veteran
improvisers take on love, lust and everything in between, all based on audience
inspiration. All ages
are welcome. A lounge area will be open for those 21 and over. Comedy of Love
has been a hit since 2005. The six performers are couples themselves.

Tickets are $15. Pre-order online or purchase at the box office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tues., Feb. 14.

About Theatresports: Seattle Theatresports is the most professional
improv show the Northwest has to offer. Theatersports is comedy, improv,
theater, and sports all rolled into one! Teams of improvisers create scenes
based entirely on audience suggestions and are scored by a panel of judges.
Seattle Theatresports is also Seattle's longest running show, and will turn 30
years old in June 2013.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Edmonds Community
College students Tonja Campbell, Lacy Kinman, and Melissa Sokolowsky are the
recipients of the 2012 Edmonds CC Community Read scholarship.

The students read The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire
That Saved America (2009) by Timothy Egan, completed projects based
on the book, met the author, and received scholarship awards of $1,200
each from the Edmonds Community
College Foundation.

Melissa created a
presentation, which includes a video of a Kung Fu influenced fire-sword piece
she choreographed and performed.

“Fire is a force to be respected, and just as
a fire performer gracefully moves in harmony with the fire she carries,
wildfire is actually harmonious with nature as well,” she said.

Melissa Sokolowsky
| Energy ManagementWhy Edmonds CC? I needed a career change.
I enjoyed earning a certificate in Electronics and I decided that I wanted to
continue my study of energy, especially renewable energy. I received a Department
of Labor State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) grant to study EnergyManagement.Before Edmonds CC? I earned a Graphic Arts
degree from Utah Valley State College and had a career in web design.Volunteering at: Central Co-op in SeattleInterests: outdoor activities, music, Kung Fu — I fell in love with the grace, fluidity, and meditative aspect of
this art.Ask her about: I had the opportunity to
travel to China to study under a Chinese master. This was an eye-opening
experience; I saw magnificent structures and climbed the
Great Wall, and also in certain areas witnessed the worst pollution than I’d ever
seen. This renewed my interest in helping to foster sustainability.Goal: to help individuals and
companies implement energy-saving technologies and practices, in order to help make
a difference in this worldDream job: building renewable energy
systems and spreading awareness about conservation and sustainability.

Edmonds Community
College students Tonja Campbell, Lacy Kinman, and Melissa Sokolowsky are the
recipients of the 2012 Edmonds CC Community Read scholarship.

The students read The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire
That Saved America (2009) by Timothy Egan, completed projects based
on the book, met the author, and received scholarship awards of $1,200
each from the Edmonds Community
College Foundation.

Lacy completed a painting “Hope Through Loss,” acrylics with mediums added, based on
three scenes from the book.

“I wanted to tap into what I felt for the men who
fought the fires and for the many who lost their lives, for the families who
lost their livelihoods, and for everyone who was unable to get out in time,”
she said.

Lacy Kinman | Associate of Arts Why Edmonds CC? Because I live only a couple miles away, which is extremely convenient.Before Edmonds CC? I owned my own online retail business.Why now? My business was steadily making less money and since I did not enjoy my work I decided I needed to get a career. I have always wanted to go to college to become a teacher so we looked into it and here I am. Also, my daughter is older now which has freed up time and made it easier to go to college.Biggest challenge: Making sure I spend quality time with my family and volunteer at my daughter's school while keeping my grades up at college.Working as: a tutor in The Writing Center at Edmonds Community CollegeBest college experience: Receiving my first 4.0 in Logic the first quarter I went to college. I did not believe I was smart enough or "had what it takes" to do well and I proved myself wrong!Favorite classes:Logic, Philosophy 106 and Painting, Art 150Foundation scholarship recipient: Money always helps. I am in the process of applying to four-year colleges and seeing how much more they cost, I am glad that I have received the scholarship because I will probably be paying for school for a long time :).Advice for students: Join some clubs and/or find out what you like and try to join in on what that community has going on. You can meet some new friends, make some contacts, and have fun doing it.College goal: Ph.DDream job: university professor

Edmonds Community
College students Tonja Campbell, Lacy Kinman, and Melissa Sokolowsky are the
recipients of the 2012 Edmonds CC Community Read scholarship.

The students read The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire
That Saved America (2009) by Timothy Egan, completed projects based on the book, met the author, and received scholarship awards of $1,200 each from the Edmonds Community
College Foundation.

Tonja Campbell wrote and designed a children’s book Pinchy and Puli: Seeds Freed by Fire based on The Big Burn. It tells a story from the perspective of two
lodgepole pine seeds (named after Gifford Pichot and Edward Pulaski, a U.S.
Forest Service Ranger) who are able to sprout and grow as the result of a fire.

Before
Edmonds CC? she has a career as a psychiatric nurse, but is pursuing a new
interest as well
Biggest
challenge: raising my two-year old daughter and attending Edmonds Community College as a full-time
student.
Interests: gardening,
worm bin composting, mushroom hunting, road trips to National Parks, edible
landscaping and back country adventures.
College
goal:College of the Environment at University of Washington for a BS/MS in Restoration Ecology. Dream job: to
work in the restoration field, especially in the areas of
mycorestoration/remediation

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Edmonds
Community College invites public to celebrate Women’s History Month: Awareness
Week Events, Feb. 19-25; attend a free series of lectures, panels, and
performances

Lynnwood, Wash.— Edmonds Community
College celebrates Women’s History Month with a prelude of events, Feb. 19-25. The public is encouraged to participate in these
free lectures, panels, performances, and more. During the Awareness Week Events,
Edmonds Community College hopes to create opportunities to educate people on
current issues facing women, and also learn about women’s tenacity, courage and
creativity throughout history.

All events,
except an art gallery reception Friday, take place in the Black Box Theatre in
Mukilteo Hall.

Edmonds
Community College anthropology instructor, Gem Baldwin, presents a history of
the women’s movement and current issues and actress Debbie Dimitre will portray
Alice Paul of the historical women’s movement. Door prizes!

Local
experts present critical issues on human trafficking throughout our region and
the world. Panelists include representatives from Dawson Place Child Advocacy
Center, Providence Intervention Center for Assault and Abuse, a mother of a
victim, Shared Hope International, The Genesis Project, and Hope for Seattle.
Booths include Penny’s Place, International Justice Mission, Shared Hope
International, and The Bridge Program.

Angie Chau

·
“A Female Immigrant’s Journey to Success”- 12:30 p.m., Wed., Feb. 22,
Black Box Theatre
International author, Angie Chau, discusses life in Vietnam, immigration to the
United States, and her road to success as an author. Chau will sign copies of
her book Quiet as They Come after the lecture and the book will be
available for purchase.

Edmonds
Community College Arabic instructor, Christina Fusch, moderates a panel
discussion on Women of the Middle East. A live presentation on the history of
belly dance with demonstrations follows. Refreshments and henna tattoos will be
available prior to the discussion with proceeds to benefit the student Arab
Club.

Discover
programs and services that contribute to sustainable communities, and get
information about starting and managing a business, financing, counseling, and
training. Representatives include the Service Core of Retired Executives, Small
Business Administration, SNO-Isle Library, City of Lynnwood, and the Northwest
Washington Business Center.

Meet
artist Kristen Ramirez at the last day of her exhibit “Lore” in the college art
gallery. Ramirez based her installation on students’ oral histories and creates
a mixed media piece drawing on sign painting and typography for inspiration.
Refreshments will be served.

About the Black BoxTheatreThe Black Box Theatre seeks to be a beacon for enlightenment, engagement,
education, and entertainment in our community. It seeks to stay relevant and
progressive as a workshop of exploration for the students of Edmonds Community
College and for the community that surrounds it. The 200-seat theater, located
on campus, offers full service support and state of the art technologies for
all types of events including musicals, plays, opera, dance, music events and
concerts.

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Computers, Electronics and Networks Department hosts a free
Intelligent Robot presentation at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 9, at the Black BoxTheatre. Dr.
Min-Fan Ricky Lee and his five graduate students from the National University
of Taiwan, will present a demonstration, speech and video on The Intelligent
Robot. Included in this demonstration are aerial and ground robots.

Lee
and his students are on a six month tour and are also visiting the University
of Washington and University of British Columbia.

Lee’s current research is on
autonomous mobile robot (air, ground, joint operation and swarm intelligence),
intelligent mobile robot behavior, and control and micro-fabricated MEMS Spectrometer sensing.